 This is State Tech Hawaii, Community Matters here. And Aloha. Good minute. Good, welcome to Community Matters. I'm the guest host today for the program. The regular guest, the regular host will be back on the next program anyhow. But for those of you who have seen me before, my name is Calvin Griffin and we do a program related to the military. But what we tie in today with Community Matters is we have a gentleman by the name of Mr. Sandlin and you've got Mr. and Mrs. Sandlin join us today. And again, what we try to do is enlighten individuals to what not only the history of Hawaii but also what's happening with the military community and how it ties in with today's environment anyhow as far as learning and explaining more about what happened in history. Right now I want to introduce to the program Mr. and Mrs. Sandlin. Thank you very much. May I call you Russell? Yes. And Miltry. Miltry. First off, could you tell us or tell our audience? A little bit about yourself, your background, were you Navy? Yes, U.S. Navy, I was two tours of Vietnam in 1972-74, yes, came out to the Navy after six years. Okay. Were you what they call a brownwater soldier or a sailor? Brownwater sailor, yes, Mekong Delta, Saigon River, lots of action involved you know with both of those locations, yes. Let me join the Navy. I mean was there a family tie in? Yes, there was a family tie in, on third generation in my family of U.S. Navy. I know that you've been pretty busy lately, let's say you have a very unique collection of models here, like at a time with American naval history, but before we move on to that, Mrs. Sandlin, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you know you're helping your husband with the project. Of course I came from the Philippines and I'm a college graduate and we just got married last year, 2016. Congratulations, I'm going to bake you a cake, but I didn't know. What was your major in college? I took up Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. I know in the Philippines is of course with MacArthur, both people are familiar with that. What is your knowledge of the naval history, not only with the Philippines, that connection, but also in general? Well, I don't really have enough knowledge about that, but of course being my husband, retired U.S. Navy, I support him on what he's doing. Russell, how did you get involved with this, because like I said, I know that the display that you've had set up, I mean you've been around, I think not only around the country, but around the world, in certain areas, could you tell us what is the main, your goal, your mission to, when you display your different models? The goal is simply to reflect history in the past, particularly American history and fluency overseas. I donate galleries, ship models and cases. I also do special hiring of art, canvas work that I do. My greatest success with the United States Embassy in the Philippines, a Olympia gallery respecting Commodore Dewey at the Battle of Minola Bay in the first 1898. I know you've been honored by so many different government levels about what you do. Could you tell us a little bit about that? I know that a lot of people when they come on the program, especially veterans, they really don't like talking about their different medals and awards and things of that nature, but sometimes like I said, it helps to get a better perspective. Like I said, how important individuals out there, and like I said, hire echelons of government or history, recognize what you do. What are some of the things that you've been recognized for by what organizations? During the time of my courtship with my wife before we got married, I participated in two 70th anniversaries in the Philippines. The 20th October 1944 70th anniversary was on television in Longopo, Philippines, during a special honor of the Leyte landings, MacArthur's final return, you know, the first return, his promise was kept. And the second one was on January 9, 1945, the Lingayan landings, the first one in Luzon. I was particularly interested to know recently before that my grandfather, my great-uncle was at that landing. The 70 ships that I built for MacArthur's Free at the Leyte landing was donated to the MacArthur Park in Lengayan on the 70th anniversary, and I received a wonderful fanfare from the governor of Pangasinan, northern Philippines, and I had a wonderful opportunity for a speech during the banquet that was there, and this is a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect American history in the Philippines and try to join our countries a little bit closer together in the future. I know that we talk a little bit offline anyhow, but one of the things that I think you expressed to me is that the reason you initially got into model building, I think it was a way of like a healing process for you? Let's see that again. It was a type of a healing process for you as far as getting anything? Yes, yes, sir. I went into the VA hospital in West Los Angeles in 2004. They were beginning to recognize issues of my combat wounds that I had during that time and took a long process. During that five months in patient state, they supported me with my first exhibit at the November 11th Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony in West Los Angeles and I was able to have my very first exhibit during that time, the U.S. Fleet 1941. Right. I know that there's always issues that we hear about what's going on with the VA, the issue about PTSD, with what you've been through and again focusing on the models and not only helping you to focus but also as far as spreading the word about what's happening historically. Have you been asked by the VA or any organizations you've been in touch with that encourages our servicers or our service members who want to, you know, they're battling this issue? But, you know, making suggestions to them, they may not necessarily deal with ships, but you try to encourage them in other ways as well. Yes. All the, for example, the service organizations, the FRA, Navy League, all of those, you know, support, you know, helping the veteran who have PTSD and other issues to have activities that help them keep themselves under control, do something respective and honor, you know, to give them their self-respect as well. Yeah. Okay. Now let's get back to the main thing as far as what the ships are concerned anyhow. How many different models do you have and how are they constructed as far as being able to accurately reproduce what the actual ships do? Well, they're actually plastic models. Many of the, 90% of the collection is actually from a model kit. I learned the issues, how do you build a ship using cannibalized parts, certain pieces from different kits using photography and using, you know, drawings that I was able to find. I was able to hone in on the actual designs using plastic parts. Plastic is an easy form of art. It's easy to work with, easy to paint, easy to connect together with glue, and that's the reason why I'm using this kind of material. Good. Okay. I'll tell you, some of the display you have here now, could you point out what the different ships are and a little bit about their history? Okay. I honored the USS Oklahoma because it's not really known as far as her configuration at the time. She's sister ship to USS Nevada, the only battleship that got underway during the attack at Pearl Harbor. Also, Oglala, she was next to USS Hona on 1010 dock. She was not hit by a torpedo, but the explosion on the cruiser made the ship capsize and sink. Also, Sacramento, she was a 1923 gunboat that was there at Pearl Harbor. USS Utah, this is the only existing replica of Utah anywhere in the country so far that I know. USS Argonaut, the first large submarine that we built in the 1920s, also used for the make and raid bringing Marines and troops, you know, ashore of the island early in the war. USS Ward, Ward was the one that fired the first shot, you know, off of Pearl Harbor Mount. And of course, USS Honolulu, which I had to bring here because of the namesake. Of course. It wouldn't allow you to state if you didn't. Okay. There's several classes, several ships in that class, by the way. I just picked the one that I thought was the best, you know, to interview and to show and tell. Okay. The Oklahoma, that's resting in Pearl Harbor? No. Oklahoma, actually when she capsized, just outside of USS, believe it was USS Tennessee, I believe. Anyway, she was two years, you know, was eventually righted, you know, using special cranes and wrenches, you know, that was not on the shore. By the end of the war, she was refloated and she was towed to the West Coast for a scrap. And unfortunately, she sank in a storm on the way. So what the Oklahoma is, there is a memorial over in Fort Island. Yes, yes. Okay, that's where I got to. Okay, that's the Utah. There's another one that rarely, a lot of people, a lot of the public may not be aware of, like say on the other side of Pearl Harbor. Yes, sir. Is that the Utah? Yes, that is the Utah. Okay, yes. And I had to go through some 30 years of photography in order to find the right configuration involved with this reconstruction. Utah is one of the three main memorials that are there at Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and USS Utah. And that's the reason why I brought Oklahoma and Utah here as a demonstration, you know, to this exhibit. As far as with these ships, have you talked to any of the original crew or, you know, member people that served on the ship? I have met in my previous experiences and exhibits that I had, 2006, 2008, survivors of the USS Nevada. They had a reunion, you know, in 2010. I was able to meet three of the Arizona, shall I say? Yeah, the USS Arizona had three sailors at an Elk Slides exhibit that I had in 2008. I met, of course, you know, in the last two years during the 75th and the 76th anniversary yesterday, other Arizona and survivors. And so, yes, I have been able to meet a lot of the survivors. We all, you know, one unique thing about being here in Hawaii with all the different veterans organizations and the things that's going on, especially with the time with Pearl Harbor, is there anything that you came across, any facts that were not widely known or not in history books that was imparted to you by either a crew member or we had, of course, the civilian populace over here that was, you know, involved in the attack, any other subject to that, any other... Is there anything surprising that we don't know or you can share with us? Yes, there is. There's a lot of details that might have been overlooked, maybe unintentionally. The three battleships that were outboard during the Pearl Harbor attack, Arizona was Division... Battleship Division III flagship. Rear Admiral Kidd, he was the division commander. USS Oklahoma and USS Nevada was part of the same battleship Division III. And all the photographs and pictures that you see at the attack, you'll notice that Arizona, with Vestal just outside of her, USS Nevada, which is more alone, and USS Oklahoma, more just outside of Tennessee, were the first to escape from the harbor if there was an emergency or trouble. Only USS Nevada was able to escape. Of course, with Arizona's casualty and Oklahoma's turning upside down. She was the only one out of Battleship Division III that actually pulled away. They would have been the first ones to leave if there was an issue of surface action outside the harbor. As I mentioned, they had the opportunity to be in the so-called media over here. In the past, I was able to interview a gentleman that was here during the attack and actually said that there was a miniature sub that was buried on Pearl Harbor. Yes. And come to find out he was actually right. This was about 15 years ago, but nobody really believed him at the time. But it's been proven that it definitely was there. Yes. There was a total of five miniature submarines that operated off the harbor mouth. One of them was landed on the beach at Bellows Field. The prisoner of war number one was the one that survived out of the two crewmen. Also, I think they recently found the submarine off the... The ward actually sank, you know. And the other three submarines were found inside the harbor. Yes. Tell you what, we're going to take a short break. I mean, this is so interesting. I don't want to get into other issues like, say, I have to take a break. But right now, we're going to take a short break and join us back here in Community Matters with Mr. and Mrs. Sandlin. And learn more about naval history than we would say here in Hawaii. Our supporters rise to the challenge. We make responsible decisions while we cheer on our heroes and toast their success. Elevate your match day experience. If you drink, never drive. Ted Rawson here, folks. You're a host on Where the Drone Leads are. Weekly show at noon on Thursdays here on Think Deck. We talk about drones. Anything to do about drones, drones, remotely piloted aircraft, unmanned aircraft Christmas, whatever you want to call them. Emerging into Hawaii's economy, educational framework, and our public life. We talk about things associated with the use, the misuse, technology, engineering, legislation with local experts, as well as people from across the country. Please join us noon on Thursdays and catch the latest on what's taking place in the world of drones that might affect you. Okay. You're back with Community Matters. And again, I'm a good guest hosting today. And thank you for staying tuned anyhow. Before we took the break anyhow, we were talking about Mr. and Mrs. Sandlin. And again, about the history of the ships. Again, I mean, there's so much to learn, you know. And unfortunately, it seems like we're losing, of course, the World War II generation. You know, a lot of history that is being lost. And there's one thing that a lot of us, some of the different organizations out there, what they try to do is get some of our veterans to talk about their experiences, you know. And what do you try to do when you do talk to these people, the ones, the few that you're able to talk to? Again, what do you take away from that's not in the history books or the feeling that they had? You know, a lot of them will say, well, you know, I just served. I did my duty and everything else. But sometimes you find out there's some unique stories that some of these veterans, they're the last people on the face of deserve that know that particular situation, you know, that had a historical... Historical contact, yes. I have come across many veterans, survivors of Pearl Harbor as well as World War II. I came across a man that actually served on Helena, I'm sorry, a Honolulu. Other ships, you know, San Francisco, which was part of the sea battles in World War II. Nevada survivors as well. They've relayed to me some experiences. One story that I remember was I read in a book, the actual Torah Torah Torah book, about USS Swan, a sea plane tender up on a ramp, you know, that was in Tridoc. And Sailor, you know, was ordered by his chief petty officer to go into the smokestack and clear off, you know, a pelican nest that was blocking the exhaust, you know, off the engines. The electrical short, you know, was actually shorted out. And the ship had no power. So they were trying to start the boilers, but the exhaust was blocked, you know, by the pelican nest that was in the smokestack. So the sailor was ordered to go up there to clear the smokestack. He was attacked by the pelicans that came back to the nest, disturbing the net, the eggs. And at the same time, he's not only fighting the chief, telling him what to do, there was Japanese planes flying around, looking at him, laughing at him as he's flying around. I think I understand that the man received a medal, you know, for all of that work. I don't remember his name, but it was a wonderful story. Were the pelicans prosecuted for a hindrance? I don't know, but I do know one thing, those eggs were probably gone. One of the things, Mrs. Sandler, with the Philippines, we know, of course, the dedication and the service that a lot of Filipinos had offered to the American, not only Navy, but different branches of service. What do you know? I mean, is there something, the tying with the Philippines that a lot of people may not be aware of, you know, as far as anything that you're aware of? Or being allies, to be allies. We are always in strong strength, you know, in our friendship, you know, with the Philippines. We are taunt protectors as well as allies. We have a lot of issues, of course, in the South China Sea and other places. But we are in a process of trying to maintain this kind of ally, this kind of friendship. And I think it's a totally enduring, you know, friendship. I think that, well, on those lines, it's just like, excuse me, you have, yeah, there's always issues, like, say, that go on any other cultural issues, but all that, you know, but for the most part, you know, on the part of the positive vein, where you have a lot of people who are from a lot of Filipino nationals who did serve, I mean, admirably and, you know, with distinction, you know, in the Navy, you know, a lot of cases they weren't recognized as far as their contributions, you know. But, you know, as far as getting the big picture, the overall story, you know, I think it's important to get it from all, you know, from all the different sides, anyhow, you know. Of course. Okay, in the future, what do you plan to do as far as, which are exhibits, and, yeah. Well, first of all, this collection, in my opinion, I've had so many people support me, belongs in Hawaii. There is no other place on the planet that belongs Southern Hawaii than the recognition of the history, the silhouettes, you know, that I've been able to reproduce, you know, from the past history as well. The idea, of course, is to keep it here as long as I can, until I can find a permanent home for it. It belongs here. I have no intention of receiving any compensation whatsoever. The Monterey value has no value to me whatsoever. I'm looking for a permanent home for it. It belongs here. You have an organization or a foundation right now? No. This is just a title called U.S. Fleet 1941 Recreation Project. Yeah. I would probably like to go non-profit in the future, and I would use all the money to be used for issues of veterans. I would call it World War II Veterans Family. Right. Okay. I think I heard something on the news yesterday, since it's being December 7th, as of the taping on this program, is that President Trump had, is this an idea of trying to get in place Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day? Have you heard anything about that, or what do you think about that? That's the first time I heard about that. Yeah. I do know that the president, you know, came here, I believe, about four to six weeks ago to visit the Arizona Memorial on his way to the Far East. Right. Yeah. You know, it always sounded curious, like, say, since the incident here, you know, that the state wouldn't have recognized it as a, you know, a special day, you know. And we'll see how it goes, you know, but I think with the way, again, we're losing so many of our World War II veterans anyhow, you know, it has to be carried on. Because when they're gone, you know, there has to be some sort of formal recognition, you know, that perpetuates, you know, what they've said for and the efforts, you know, as I said. Okay. And then, again, with all the different ships, you mentioned, okay, we've got the service ships, the submarine force. What do you know about that? How extensive is your knowledge on that? Well, actually, I have a small reference book, you know, in reference to all the names of ships involved with the submarine corps, the submarine service. This Argonaut, for example, was a 1927 design. She was actually a failure. She didn't have powerful engines. Yeah. She used her, you know, for more transport than actually submarine operations. As the time went by, in the 1930s, we began to get a little better, you know, with the machinery, a little bit better with the operational weapons, you know, that was on board the submarines. And by the time, by the 1940s and 1941, the first of the Gado class submarines were actually commissioned. Two of them were commissioned before, in number 41, USS Drum and USS Gado. They were commissioned before January 1st, 1942. Okay. Yeah. A little like, you know, it's probably submarine history. The only thing I know, John Holland, of course, you're familiar with that name. Yeah. In my hometown of Pleasantville, New Jersey, it's like they have a, we had a shop and actually constructed one of the subs. I mean, the beginning, you know, is there. The location is gone, you know, but just empty a lot. But yeah, that's my time with the submarine service other than that. Yes. I like sleeping with the windows open. Yeah. I think a lot of people feel the same way. I do too. We're getting it out to the wire. So if there's any, what are from other information you want to put out? There's any contact information. If somebody wants to get more information or they may have a piece of history that, you know, will help you to improve your, you know, your display. Is there a contact number they can reach you? Yes. Actually, I would give you my telephone number would be fine. Yeah. You can contact me in Carson City, Nevada, where we reside area code 775-883-0635. Yeah. Let me repeat that one more time. We just in case they're trying to grab a pencil out there or something. Okay. Area code 775-883-0635. Okay. All right. Again, as I'm just stating, understand that you're going to be at the park service. When is your display going to be there? Yes. We are going to set up today for the beginning of the two day show, the exhibit Saturday and Sunday, tomorrow and Sunday. The exhibit will open at 9 a.m. on Sunday. I'm sorry, it's tomorrow, Saturday. Yeah. And we got a lot of preparations. Yeah. I was excited anyhow, you know, but looking forward to seeing it anyhow. If I may, we're setting the exhibit up as though it was actually a ocean view. Yeah. When people come in to take a look at the pictures, you'll see sky in the background, you'll see the ocean down with the ships of formation. If you angle your camera right, you'll also see a sky and ocean. That's the reason why we're setting it up special this way. Sounds exciting anyhow. Yeah. Because right now they don't, there's nothing, I know they have a few model ships over on Fort Island at the Museum and also at the Arizona. But yeah, this definitely looks like a welcome addition, you know, to the historical display. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. You know, doing a great job. And yeah, before we get down to the wire, you mentioned about paintings. You say, do you paint, do both of you paint? Oh yeah, she's going to be great support, you know, in the painting process. The ships that you see here is actually, for example, Oklahoma, this is the way the camouflage was for about 90% of the ships. Okay. I still got a little bit more modifications to do, but everything above the smokestack was a light gray, everything below was a dark gray. At ranges of 10 miles or more, you couldn't see the ship to a gun director. Yeah. Because it was virtually invisible. Wow. Okay. That's the reason why we painted it that way. Okay. Well, again, I want to thank you for, you know, both your efforts, you know, getting the word out there and trying to, you know, enlighten, you know, our citizens to what's happening with history and your future. I hope to have you back on the program again and, you know, looking forward to going over and checking out the display. I expect to be back next year. Good. Looking forward to that. But again, thank you for your efforts. Anytime you get out there and trying to do something that... Thank you, sir. Oh, my pleasure. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Anyhow, right now, like I said, we're going to take a... This is it. So until that time, as I mentioned before, I'm just a guest host today, but tune in for Community Matters here on Think Tech Hawaii. And thank you for tuning in. God bless and until that time.